Probe

ABSTRACT

A configuration is provided for firmly fixing a transmitting and receiving unit for IVUS and a transmitting and receiving unit for OCT in a probe of an imaging apparatus for diagnosis in which space saving is achieved. The probe includes a cylindrical housing in which an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit is arranged on a distal side and a light transmitting and receiving unit is arranged on a proximal side. Two signal wires are connected to the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and which extend toward the proximal side substantially parallel to each other and which are arranged in the housing so as to cause the distance between the two signal wires to be smaller than a width of a ball lens portion of the light transmitting and receiving unit.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/JP2013/001865 filed on Mar. 19, 2013, and claims priority toJapanese Application No. 2012-072863 filed on Mar. 28, 2012, the entirecontent of both of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure here generally relates to a probe which is inserted intoa body lumen when generating a tomographic image by using an imagingapparatus for diagnosis.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

Imaging apparatuses for diagnosis have been widely used to performdiagnoses of arteriosclerosis, and preoperative diagnoses duringintra-vascular treatment using a high-performance catheter such as aballoon catheter or a stent, or to check postoperative results.

The imaging apparatus for diagnosis includes an intra-vascular ultrasound diagnostic apparatus (IVUS) and an optical coherence tomographyapparatus (OCT) and the like, each of which has characteristicsdifferent from each other.

Recently, an imaging apparatus for diagnosis has been proposed in whichthe function of the IVUS and the function of the OCT are combined (forexample, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-56752and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-508973). In theimaging apparatus for diagnosis, a transmitting and receiving unit forIVUS and a transmitting and receiving unit for OCT are disposed in adistal end portion of an imaging core which is interpolated into aprobe, and two types of tomographic images can be generated by using anultrasonic wave and light which are respectively transmitted andreceived in the transmitting and receiving units.

In other words, when the imaging apparatus for diagnosis is used, it ispossible to generate a tomographic image taking an advantage of thecharacteristics of the IVUS which can measure up to a high depth regionand an advantage of the characteristics of the OCT which can measure anarea in high resolution.

SUMMARY

However, space saving is indispensable when accommodating a transmittingand receiving unit for IVUS and a transmitting and receiving unit forOCT in a distal end portion of an imaging core. It is because thediagnostic target of an imaging apparatus for diagnosis is the inside ofan extremely thin body lumen such as a blood vessel so that it isdesirable for the diameter of the imaging core which is interpolatedinto a probe to be minimized as much as possible.

The probe disclosed here has been made taking the aforementionedproblems into consideration, and aims to provide a configuration forfixing the transmitting and receiving unit for IVUS and the transmittingand receiving unit for OCT in the probe of the imaging apparatus fordiagnosis in which space saving is achieved.

The probe includes a cylindrical housing in which an ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receive an ultrasonicwave and a light transmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receivelight are arranged. The probe transfers a signal to an imaging apparatusfor diagnosis generating an ultrasonic wave tomographic image and alight tomographic image based on the signal obtained by transmitting andreceiving the ultrasonic wave and the light in a state where the housingrotates to move inside a body lumen in an axial direction. An openingportion for the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and thelight transmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receive theultrasonic wave and the light is provided on an upper side in thecylindrical surface of the housing. The ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit is arranged on a distal side in the axial direction andthe light transmitting and receiving unit is arranged on a proximal sidein the axial direction respectively in the housing. Two signal wires ofwhich one of the ends are connected to the ultrasonic wave transmittingand receiving unit and which extend to the outside of the housing towardthe proximal side in the axial direction substantially parallel to eachother are arranged in the housing so as to cause the distance betweenthe two signal wires to be smaller than a width of an optical elementconfiguring the light transmitting and receiving unit below the lighttransmitting and receiving unit.

According to the present disclosure, a transmitting and receiving unitfor IVUS and a transmitting and receiving unit for OCT can be fixed tothe probe of an imaging apparatus for diagnosis in which space saving isachieved.

Other characteristics and advantages of the disclosure here will beobvious in the following description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. Regarding the accompanying drawings, the same referencenumerals and signs will be applied to the same or the similarconfigurations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated in this specification, takepart in the configuration, and illustrate embodiments of the probe,thereby being used to explain the description and the principle of theprobe disclosed here.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an appearance of animaging apparatus for diagnosis 100 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an overall configuration of a probe unitand a cross-sectional configuration of the distal end portion thereof.

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating an arrangement of an ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit and a light transmitting and receivingunit and an arrangement of cables in an imaging core.

FIG. 3B is another view illustrating an arrangement of the ultrasonicwave transmitting and receiving unit and the light transmitting andreceiving unit and an arrangement of the cables in the imaging core.

FIG. 4 is another view illustrating an arrangement of the ultrasonicwave transmitting and receiving unit and the light transmitting andreceiving unit and an arrangement of the cables in the imaging core.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the probe disclosed here will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

1. Configuration of Appearance of Imaging Apparatus for Diagnosis

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an appearance of animaging apparatus for diagnosis 100 (imaging apparatus for diagnosisprovided with function of IVUS and function of OCT) according to anembodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus for diagnosis 100includes a probe unit 101, a scanner and pull-back unit 102 and anoperation control apparatus 103. The scanner and pull-back unit 102 andthe operation control apparatus 103 are connected to each other via asignal wire 104 which transfers various signals.

An imaging core which is directly inserted into a body lumen such as ablood vessel is interpolated into the probe unit 101. The imaging coreincludes an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit whichtransmits an ultrasonic wave based on a pulse signal to the inside ofthe body lumen and receives a reflected wave from a biological tissueinside the body lumen, and a light transmitting and receiving unit whichcontinuously transmits transferred light (measurement light) to theinside of the body lumen and continuously receives reflected light froma biological tissue inside the body lumen. In the imaging apparatus fordiagnosis 100, the imaging core is used to measure a state inside a bodylumen.

The probe unit 101 is detachably attached to the scanner and pull-backunit 102 which regulates the imaging core interpolated into the probeunit 101 regarding an operation in an axial direction and an operationin a rotary direction inside a body lumen by driving a built-in motor.The scanner and pull-back unit 102 acquires the reflected wave receivedby the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and the reflectedlight received by the light transmitting and receiving unit, therebyperforming transmission to the operation control apparatus 103.

The operation control apparatus 103 includes a function for inputtingvarious setting values when performing the measuring, and a function forprocessing data obtained through measurement and displaying it as atomographic image inside a body lumen.

In the operation control apparatus 103, the reference numeral 111indicates a main body control unit, which generates ultrasonic wave databased on a reflected wave obtained through the measurement, andprocesses line data generated based on the ultrasonic wave data, therebygenerating an ultrasonic wave tomographic image. The main body controlunit 111 generates interference light data by causing reflected lightobtained through the measurement and reference light obtained byseparating light from a light source to interfere with each other, andprocesses the line data generated based on the interference light data,thereby generating a light tomographic image.

The reference numeral 111-1 indicates a printer and a DVD recorder,which print a processing result of the main body control unit 111 orstore the same as data. The reference numeral 112 indicates an operationpanel, and a user inputs various setting values and instructions via theoperation panel 112. The reference numeral 113 indicates an LCD monitoras a display device, which displays tomographic images (ultrasonic wavetomographic image and light tomographic image) generated in the mainbody control unit 111.

2. Overall Configuration of Probe Unit and Cross-sectional Configurationof Distal End Portion thereof

Subsequently, an overall configuration of the probe unit 101 and across-sectional configuration of the distal end portion thereof will bedescribed using FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the probe unit 101 isconfigured to include an elongated catheter sheath 201 which is directlyinserted into a body lumen such as a blood vessel, and a connector unit202 which is arranged on a hand side of a user to be manipulated by theuser without being inserted into a body lumen such as a blood vessel. Atube for guide wire lumen 203 configuring a guide wire lumen is providedat a distal end of the catheter sheath 201. That is, the distal end ofthe catheter sheath 201 includes a tube 203 possessing a guide wirelumen configured to receive a guide wire. The catheter sheath 201 formsa lumen that continues from a portion connected to the tube for guidewire lumen 203 to a portion connected to the connector unit 202.

Inside a lumen of the catheter sheath 201, an imaging core 220 includinga transmitting and receiving unit 221 and a coil-shaped drive shaft 222is inserted through the catheter sheath 201 throughout substantially theoverall length of the catheter sheath 201. The transmitting andreceiving unit 221 includes the ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit for transmitting and receiving an ultrasonic wave, andthe light transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting and receivinglight. The drive shaft 222 is internally provided with an electricsignal cable and an optical fiber cable, and transfers a rotary driveforce for rotating the transmitting and receiving unit 221.

The connector unit 202 includes a sheath connector 202 a which isconfigured to be unified to a proximal end of the catheter sheath 201,and a drive shaft connector 202 b which is configured to rotatably fixthe drive shaft 222 at a proximal end of the drive shaft 222.

In a boundary portion between the sheath connector 202 a and thecatheter sheath 201, an anti-kink protector 211 is provided.Accordingly, a predetermined rigidity is maintained and bending (kink)due to a rapid change of physical properties can be prevented.

A proximal end of the drive shaft connector 202 b is detachably attachedto the scanner and pull-back unit 102.

Subsequently, a cross-sectional configuration of a distal end portion ofthe probe unit 101 will be described. As described above, inside a lumenof the catheter sheath 201, the imaging core 220 including thetransmitting and receiving unit 221 and the drive shaft 222 is insertedthrough throughout substantially the overall length thereof, therebyforming the probe unit 101. The drive shaft 222 transfers a rotary driveforce for rotating the transmitting and receiving unit 221 at a highspeed.

The transmitting and receiving unit 221 transmits an ultrasonic wave andlight toward a biological tissue inside a body lumen and receives areflected wave and reflected light from a biological tissue inside abody lumen.

The drive shaft 222 has a coil shape and is provided with the electricsignal cable and the optical fiber cable (single mode optical fibercable).

The drive shaft 222 is configured to have a multiplex-multilayer bondingcoil which can make the transmitting and receiving unit 221 to operatein a rotary direction and an axial direction with respect to thecatheter sheath 201, and is made with a metal wire such as stainlesssteel having characteristics of being soft and favorably transferringrotations.

The housing 223 includes the transmitting and receiving unit 221disposed therein. The housing 223 has a shape in which an openingportion is provided in a portion (upper side on cylindrical surface) ofa short cylindrical metallic pipe. The housing 223 is molded throughcarving from matte, metal powder injection molding (MIM), and the like.The housing 223 internally houses the ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit and the light transmitting and receiving unit as thetransmitting and receiving unit 221. A proximal side of the housing 223is connected to the drive shaft 222. A short coil-shaped elastic member231 is provided on a distal side of the housing 223.

The elastic member 231 is a stainless steel wire having a coil shape,and the elastic member 231 is disposed on the distal side so as toprevent the imaging core 220 from being caught inside the cathetersheath 201 when the imaging core 220 moves back and forth.

A reinforcement coil 232 is provided for the purpose of preventing asudden bending of a distal end portion of the catheter sheath 201.

The tube for guide wire lumen 203 has a lumen for a guide wire intowhich a guide wire can be inserted. The tube for guide wire lumen 203receives a guide wire which is directly inserted into a body lumen suchas a blood vessel, thereby being used for guiding the catheter sheath201 to a target lesion through the guide wire.

3. Internal Configuration of Imaging Core

Subsequently, an internal configuration of the imaging core 220 will bedescribed in detail. FIG. 3A is a view for illustrating an arrangementof the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and the lighttransmitting and receiving unit, and an arrangement of cables in theimaging core 220, in detail.

The drawing 30 a of FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional configurationwhen the imaging core 220 is seen from a side surface, and the drawings30 b and 30 c of FIG. 3A illustrate cross-sectional configurationsrespectively in an ultrasonic emitting position and a light emittingposition when the imaging core 220 is seen from the front (distal side).As illustrated in the drawing 30 a of FIG. 3A, the transmitting andreceiving unit 221 which is disposed inside the housing 223 in thedistal end portion of the imaging core 220 includes an ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 and a light transmitting andreceiving unit 320. The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit310 and the light transmitting and receiving unit 320 are arrangedinside the housing 223 along the axial direction. The ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 is arranged on the distal side ofthe imaging core 220, and the light transmitting and receiving unit 320is arranged on the proximal side of the imaging core 220.

As illustrated in the drawings 30 b and 30 c of FIG. 3A, the cylindricalhousing 223 is filled with an adhesive agent on the inner side of thecylindrical surface (in examples of 30 b and 30 c, inner side of thecylindrical surface on a lower side). Accordingly, inside the housing223, the top surface of the adhesive agent is formed along the axialdirection.

The ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit 310 includes anoscillator 310 a and a rear surface material 310 b. The overall bottomsurface of the rear surface material 310 b is positioned on a lower sidethan the top surface of the adhesive agent (that is, the overall bottomsurface of the rear surface material 310 b is at least partiallyembedded in adhesive agent) so that the ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit 310 is firmly fixed to the housing 223.

The light transmitting and receiving unit 320 is provided at the distalend of an optical fiber cable 321. The lower portion of a ball lensportion (optical element) 322 which has lens performance for collectinglight and reflection performance for reflecting the same and the lowerportion of a straight spacer portion 323 are positioned on lower sidesthan the top surface of the adhesive agent (that is, the lower portionsof the ball lens portion 322 and the straight spacer portion 323 are atleast partially embedded in adhesive agent). Accordingly, the lighttransmitting and receiving unit 320 is firmly fixed to the housing 223.A reflection surface of the ball lens portion 322 is formed by coating areflection material onto an inclined surface of the ball lens portion322.

As illustrated in 30 a of FIG. 3A, one end of each of the two electricsignal cables 311 for transmitting a pulse signal to the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 and for transmitting a reflectedwave which is received in the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingunit 310 to the operation control apparatus 103 is connected to theultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit 310. The electric signalcables 311 extend to the drive shaft 222 (outside of housing 223)substantially parallel to each other via a path which does not interferewith the light emitting position of the light transmitting and receivingunit 320 inside the housing 223.

The electric signal cables 311 are disposed inside the drive shaft 222while being wound around the optical fiber cable 321 of which one end isconnected to the straight spacer portion 323 of the light transmittingand receiving unit 320 so as to form twisted wiring inside the driveshaft 222.

Subsequently, an internal configuration of the housing 223 will bedescribed in detail using FIG. 3B. FIG. 3B is a view for illustrating anarrangement of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit 310and the light transmitting and receiving unit 320 and an arrangement ofthe cables in the housing 223.

The drawing 31 a of FIG. 3B illustrates a planar configuration when theimaging core 220 is seen from the top surface, and the drawings 31 b-1,31 b-2, 31 c-1, and 31 c-2 of FIG. 3B respectively illustratecross-sectional configurations when seen from a distal side of thehousing 223 having each of the positions of a plurality of dot and dashlines 341 to 344 indicated in the drawing 31 a of FIG. 3B as the cutpositions thereof.

As illustrated in the drawings 31 a and 31 c-1 of FIG. 3B, the twoelectric signal cables 311 connected to the ultrasonic wave transmittingand receiving unit 310 extend to the drive shaft 222 through a sidelower than the top surface of the adhesive agent in the light emittingposition (position indicated by dot and dash line 343) of the lighttransmitting and receiving unit 320 (that is, after being embedded inadhesive agent first in a light emitting position).

If the electric signal cables 311 connected to the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 are stretched between connectionterminals (refer to 31 b-2) provided on the top surface of theoscillator 310 a and a side surface of the adhesive agent (refer to 31c-2), and are arranged in a state of being hung in midair above the balllens portion 322, when the imaging core 220 is made to rotate at a highspeed, there is a possibility that the electric signal cables 311 maycause vibrations.

In contrast, as illustrated in the drawings 31 a and 31 c-1 of FIG. 3B,in the light emitting position, when the electric signal cables 311 areconfigured to pass at a portion lower than the top surface of theadhesive agent instead of a portion higher than the top surface of theadhesive agent, the electric signal cables 311 can avoid the state ofbeing hung in midair inside the housing 223 so as to be firmly fixed tothe housing 223. As a result, even when the imaging core 220 is made torotate at a high speed, the electric signal cables 311 do not causevibrations, and thus, it is possible to avoid influence on themeasurement by the light transmitting and receiving unit 320.

As illustrated in the drawing 31 c-1 of FIG. 3B, the two electric signalcables 311 connected to the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingunit 310 are arranged below the ball lens portion 322 configuring thelight transmitting and receiving unit 320 so as to cause a distance D tobe smaller than a width W of the ball lens portion 322. Accordingly, asillustrated in the drawing 31 a of FIG. 3B, when the imaging core 220 isseen from the top surface, a portion of each of the two electric signalcables 311 overlaps with the ball lens portion 322. As a result, forexample, compared to a case of being arranged on a side surface of theball lens portion 322 (that is, compared to a case of being arrangedwithout overlapping with the ball lens portion 322), the two electricsignal cables 311 can be arranged in a space saving state.

As it is obvious from the above description, in the probe unit 101according to the present embodiment, the ultrasonic wave transmittingand receiving unit 310 is arranged on the distal side of the probe unit101 and the light transmitting and receiving unit 320 is arranged on theproximal side of the probe unit 101 inside the housing 223 which isprovided in the distal end portion of the imaging core 220.

After filling the inside of the cylindrical surface on the lower side inthe cylindrical surface forming the cylindrical housing 223 with theadhesive agent, the overall bottom surface of the rear surface material310 b of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit 310 isarranged on a side lower than the top surface of the adhesive agent(that is, embedded into adhesive agent). Accordingly, the ultrasonicwave transmitting and receiving unit 310 could be firmly fixed to thehousing 223.

Similarly, the lower portion of the ball lens portion 322 and the lowerportion of a straight spacer portion 323 of the light transmitting andreceiving unit 320 were configured to be embedded into the adhesiveagent. Accordingly, the light transmitting and receiving unit 320 couldbe firmly fixed to the housing 223.

The electric signal cables 311 connected to the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 were configured to be embedded inthe adhesive agent in the light emitting position of the lighttransmitting and receiving unit 320. Accordingly, the electric signalcables 311 could avoid the state of being hung in midair inside thehousing 223.

The electric signal cables 311 connected to the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 were configured to be arranged atthe distance D narrower than the width W of the ball lens portion 322below the ball lens portion 322 configuring the light transmitting andreceiving unit 320. Accordingly, the electric signal cables 311 could bearranged inside the housing 223 in a space saving state.

As a result, in the probe of the imaging apparatus for diagnosis, evenwhen the imaging core rotates at a high speed, it is possible tosecurely suppress an occurrence of vibrations or the like and tominimize the diameter of the imaging core as much as possible.

Second Embodiment

In the first embodiment, according to the above-described configuration,in addition to the aspect in which the transmitting and receiving unitfor IVUS and the transmitting and receiving unit for OCT can be firmlyfixed to the housing 223, the description has also been made regardingthe aspect regarding the arrangement in which space saving can beachieved. However, a space saving effect of the arrangement becomesremarkable when the diameter of the ball lens portion 322 is increased.That is, a space saving effect of the arrangement is enhanced when thediameter of the ball lens portion 322 is increased.

Hereinafter, a description will be given in detail regarding an aspectin which the space saving effect of the arrangement is enhanced when thediameter of the ball lens portion 322 is increased.

FIG. 4 is a view for illustrating an arrangement of the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 and the light transmitting andreceiving unit 320 and an arrangement of the cables in the housing 223in detail. FIG. 4 differs from FIG. 3 in that the ball lens portion 322and the straight spacer portion 323 have large diameters.

In this manner, when the diameter of the ball lens portion 322 isincreased, if the electric signal cables 311 connected to the ultrasonicwave transmitting and receiving unit 310 are arranged so as to passthrough the side surface of the ball lens portion 322, the diameter ofthe inner wall of the housing 223 needs to be greater than the sum ofthe diameter of the ball lens portion 322 and the diameters of the twoelectric signal cables 311.

In contrast, as illustrated in the drawings 40 a and 40 c-1 of FIG. 4,the electric signal cables 311 connected to the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit 310 can be accommodated within a rangeof the width W of the ball lens portion 322 by arranging the electricsignal cables 311 in the light emitting position of the lighttransmitting and receiving unit 320 along the lower surface of the balllens portion 322.

In this case, a projecting amount ΔH of the electric signal cables 311in a downward direction with respect to the height H of the ball lensportion 322 can be minimized by arranging the electric signal cables 311to be separated by a predetermined distance L (compared to a case wherethe electric signal cables 311 are arranged side by side along the lowersurface of the ball lens portion 322 (that is, L=0) (refer to thereference numeral 311′ within dotted lines), the projecting amount ΔH ofthe electric signal cables 311 in the downward direction can besuppressed.). Accordingly, the electric signal cables 311 can beaccommodated inside the housing 223 in which space saving is furtherachieved.

In other words, even when the diameter of the ball lens portion 322 isincreased, the diameter of the probe can be maintained.

In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above,examples are described using a ball lens as an optical element. However,without being limited thereto, the probe disclosed here may beconfigured to use optical elements such as the ball lens, a gradientindex-type (GRIN) lens, a reflection-type prism, and an aspheric lens.

The detailed description above describes embodiments of a probe andimaging apparatus representing examples of the probe and imagingapparatus of the present invention. The invention is not limited,however, to the precise embodiments and variations described. Variouschanges, modifications and equivalents can be effected by one skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the accompanying claims. It is expressly intended that allsuch changes, modifications and equivalents which fall within the scopeof the claims are embraced by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A probe comprising: a cylindrical housing inwhich an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit to transmit andreceive an ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit including an oscillator, and a light transmitting andreceiving unit to transmit and receive light are arranged, the lighttransmitting and receiving unit including an optical element, theoptical element being a ball lens; at least two signal wires each havingrespective ends, the two signal wires being arranged in the cylindricalhousing and extending to outside of the cylindrical housing toward aproximal side of the probe in an axial direction, and wherein the twosignal wires are parallel to each other in the cylindrical housing so asto cause a distance between the two signal wires to be smaller than awidth of the ball lens of the optical element; the probe configured totransfer a signal to an operation control apparatus of an imagingapparatus for diagnosis, the operation control apparatus configured togenerate an ultrasonic wave tomographic image and a light tomographicimage based on the signal obtained by transmitting and receiving theultrasonic wave and the light in a state where the cylindrical housingrotates to move inside a body lumen in the axial direction; an openingportion for the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and thelight transmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receive theultrasonic wave and the light provided on an upper side of a cylindricalsurface of the cylindrical housing; wherein the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit is arranged on a distal side of thecylindrical housing in the axial direction and the light transmittingand receiving unit is arranged on a proximal side of the cylindricalhousing in the axial direction; the ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit and the light transmitting and receiving unit being fixedto the cylindrical housing in a state where a base of the ultrasonicwave transmitting and receiving unit and a base portion of the ball lensof the light transmitting and receiving unit are embedded in an adhesiveagent; and wherein the two signal wires connected to the oscillator ofthe ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and extending to theoutside of the housing are embedded in the adhesive agent.
 2. The probeaccording to claim 1, wherein a side of the cylindrical housing isfilled with the adhesive agent, the adhesive agent having a cylindricalsurface and a top surface formed along the axial direction.
 3. The probeaccording to claim 2, wherein the two signal wires are disposed along alower surface of the optical element of the light transmitting andreceiving unit.
 4. The probe according to claim 3, wherein the twosignal wires are arranged so as to be accommodated within the width ofthe optical element of the light transmitting and receiving unit.
 5. Theprobe according to claim 4, wherein the two signal wires are separatedfrom each other by a predetermined distance on the lower surface of theoptical element.
 6. The probe according to claim 1, further comprising:a drive shaft connected to the housing and transferring a rotary driveforce for rotating the housing, and wherein the two signal wires arewound around an optical fiber which is connected to the lighttransmitting and receiving unit so as to form twisted wiring inside thedrive shaft.
 7. The probe according to claim 1, further comprising: areflection surface of the ball lens, wherein the reflection surface is acoating of a reflection material on an inclined surface of the balllens.
 8. The probe according to claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit further includes a base material, thebase material being embedded in the adhesive agent; and at least one ofthe respective ends of each of the two signal wires is connected to theoscillator of the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit, andwherein the at least one of the respective ends of each of the twosignal wires is not embedded in the adhesive agent.
 9. A probecomprising: a cylindrical housing in which an ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receive an ultrasonicwave, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit including anoscillator, and a light transmitting and receiving unit to transmit andreceive light are arranged, the light transmitting and receiving unitincluding an optical element, the optical element being a ball lens; atleast two signal wires each having respective ends, wherein a portion ofeach of the two signal wires overlaps the optical element in a directionparallel to a width the optical element, the two signal wires extendingto outside of the cylindrical housing toward a proximal side of theprobe in an axial direction parallel to each other; the probe beingconfigured to transfer a signal to an operation control apparatus of animaging apparatus for diagnosis, the operation control apparatus beingconfigured to generate an ultrasonic wave tomographic image and a lighttomographic image based on the signal obtained by transmitting andreceiving the ultrasonic wave and the light in a state where thecylindrical housing rotates to move inside a body lumen in the axialdirection; wherein an opening portion for the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit and the light transmitting and receivingunit to transmit and receive the ultrasonic wave and the light isprovided on an upper side of a cylindrical surface of the cylindricalhousing; wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit isarranged on a distal side of the cylindrical housing in the axialdirection and the light transmitting and receiving unit is arranged on aproximal side of the cylindrical housing in the axial direction; theultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and the lighttransmitting and receiving unit being fixed to the cylindrical housingin a state where a base of the ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit and a base portion of the ball lens of the lighttransmitting and receiving unit are embedded in an adhesive agent;wherein the two signal wires connected to the oscillator of theultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and extending to theoutside of the housing are embedded in the adhesive agent; and whereinat least one of the respective ends of each of the two signal wires isconnected to the oscillator of the ultrasonic wave transmitting andreceiving unit, and wherein the at least one of the respective ends ofeach of the two signal wires is not embedded in the adhesive agent. 10.The probe according to claim 9, wherein the two signal wires arearranged in the cylindrical housing so that a distance between the twosignal wires is less than the width of the optical element.
 11. Theprobe according to claim 10, wherein the optical element possesses anouter diameter which is the width of the optical element.
 12. The probeaccording to claim 9, wherein a lower side of the cylindrical housing isfilled with the adhesive agent.
 13. The probe according to claim 9,further comprising: a reflection surface of the ball lens, wherein thereflection surface is a coating of a reflection material on an inclinedsurface of the ball lens.
 14. The probe according to claim 9, furthercomprising: a drive shaft connected to the housing and transferring arotary drive force for rotating the housing, and wherein the two signalwires are wound around an optical fiber which is connected to the lighttransmitting and receiving unit so as to form twisted wiring inside thedrive shaft.
 15. A probe comprising: a cylindrical housing in which anultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receivean ultrasonic wave, the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unitincluding an oscillator, and a light transmitting and receiving unit totransmit and receive light are arranged, the light transmitting andreceiving unit including an optical element, the optical element being aball lens; the cylindrical housing being partially filled with anadhesive agent, wherein the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingunit and the light transmitting and receiving unit are fixed to thecylindrical housing in a state where a base of the ultrasonic wavetransmitting and receiving unit and at least a portion of the ball lensof the optical element are embedded in the adhesive agent; at least twosignal wires each having respective ends, the two signal wires beingembedded in the adhesive agent in the cylindrical housing and extendingto outside of the cylindrical housing toward a proximal side of theprobe in an axial direction, and wherein the two signal wires areparallel to each other in the cylindrical housing so as to cause adistance between the two signal wires to be less than a width of theball lens of the optical element; the probe being configured to transfera signal to an operation control apparatus of an imaging apparatus fordiagnosis, the operation control apparatus being configured to generatean ultrasonic wave tomographic image and a light tomographic image basedon the signal obtained by transmitting and receiving the ultrasonic waveand the light in a state where the cylindrical housing rotates to moveinside a body lumen in the axial direction; an opening portion for theultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit and the lighttransmitting and receiving unit to transmit and receive the ultrasonicwave and the light provided on an upper side of a cylindrical surface ofthe cylindrical housing; the ultrasonic wave transmitting and receivingunit being arranged on a distal side of the cylindrical housing in theaxial direction and the light transmitting and receiving unit beingarranged on a proximal side of the cylindrical housing in the axialdirection; and wherein at least one of the respective ends of each ofthe two signal wires is connected to the ultrasonic wave transmittingand receiving unit.
 16. The probe according to claim 15, wherein thecylindrical housing possesses at least an axially extending part inwhich only a lower portion is filled with the adhesive agent.
 17. Theprobe according to claim 15, wherein the ball lens of the opticalelement possesses an outer diameter which is the width of the opticalelement.
 18. The probe according to claim 15, wherein a portion of eachof the two signal wires overlaps the optical element in a directionparallel to the width of the optical element.
 19. The probe according toclaim 15, further comprising: a reflection surface of the ball lens,wherein the reflection surface is a coating of a reflection material onan inclined surface of the ball lens.
 20. The probe according to claim15, further comprising: a drive shaft connected to the housing andtransferring a rotary drive force for rotating the housing, and whereinthe two signal wires are wound around an optical fiber which isconnected to the light transmitting and receiving unit so as to formtwisted wiring inside the drive shaft.